While the world continues to remain fascinated by tsunamis and superstorms, recent findings have uncovered surprising facts about a powerful force that exists under the surface of the world's oceans. Despite being almost undetectable from the surface, underwater waves may actually have widespread effects on the Earth's climate.
Underwater or internal waves are very large waves that can reach hundreds of feet in height. Unlike tsunamis, however, these waves exists under the ocean. Recent research may have finally shed light on the mysteries of these waves. While scientists have known their existence for a while now, very little is known about how they are formed. These internal waves can often be seen in certain areas such as the South China Sea and scientists from MIT as well as a number of other research facilities have been observing them to shed light on their origins. The Office of Naval Research also spearheaded the effort.
According to the research team, these undersea waves are actually very similar in shape to normal waves on the ocean's surface. To detect this wave, scientists had to look at the densities of the ocean's waters. Differences in both salt content and temperature lead to the formation of layers under the oceans, which in turn, form internal waves. These differences can be detected using a wide variety of special instrumentation. Once detected, the waves can be modeled using computers to study their structure.
In what appears to be the largest laboratory experiment aimed at studying internal waves, MIT associate professor of mechanical engineering, Thomas Peacock, teamed up with other researchers. The experiments were conducted in the area of ocean between the Philippines and Taiwan.
"There are the most powerful internal waves discovered thus far in the ocean," says Peacock. "They are skyscraper-scale waves."
The team has also discovered that the giant waves can reach more than 550 feet in height. Despite their daunting size, however, internal waves travel very slowly at speeds of just a couple of centimeters per second. The team constructed a large-scale model of the Luzon Strait's sea floor. The scale model was then installed in a giant tank in Grenoble, France. Using simulations in the giant 50-foot diameter tank, the scientists have determined that the waves are formed as a result of the water's interaction with the entire ridge system of the Luzon strait.
The data collected from the scale model experiments were also compared to existing data from previous observations of naturally occurring internal waves. Due to the size and scale of these waves, they are believed to have a profound effect on the planet's climate.
